A Person’s A Person No Matter How Small

One of our wonderful Cities4Life sidewalk counselors stood shivering beside me in the cold damp day, facing the abortion center. The sun peeked out momentarily and then disappeared behind the rain clouds again.

“It was here for one hot moment, and then gone!” Courtney said. She told me that in the summer, being on the sidewalk counseling women to choose life had been a comparative breeze. As winter rains and chills hit, she said she asked herself, “What were you thinking???” She said this in jest. She is one of our strong team members and very committed to being there each week. 

However, as demonstrated in the photo at the top of this blog, it took me two cups of tea, a blanket, and a couple of hours to warm up after our morning on the sidewalk. One woman chose life and there were very few abortions for a Monday. That was all encouraging, but winters are not easy on our teams.

The day before, Sunday, our pastor had preached a fabulous message about trusting God no matter what. I took notes, as I always do. Later that day, I received a text from a mother who has tentatively chosen life over abortion, but she is still struggling. My pastor’s message was perfect to encourage her. I have recorded the texts with her below, hoping it will encourage others who are similarly struggling.

Mama: Haven’t had much time to think.

I did receive your email. 

Thanks.

Vicky: You’re welcome. I know you know that God loves you, that God’s word is clear about the precious life of the child you carry, and that if you trust in him you will find peace.

In fact, that is what our sermon was about today.

It was from Philippians 4 and how PAUL was able to find peace even while in prison. He understood that contentment only follows when we follow God and that no matter what our circumstances are, we can find peace when we are in sync with God.

And without that, we will never find contentment.

Philippians 4:13 is the verse that says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me“ but in the context of the entire book, ‘we can do all things’ means being able to trust God no matter what our circumstances are. That is where true contentment lives

Mama: Thank you 🙏🏾 

Vicky: As I was listening to the sermon, I knew that it was true because through my breast cancer, despite terrible circumstances, I supernaturally was able to trust God and I found peace in the midst of all that horror.

Trusting God is not easy when our circumstances are hard, but it is the only way to finding life, hope, and peace.

I have been praying that tomorrow you will see your baby’s heartbeat and that will give you the strength you need to follow God. But even if you don’t see the heartbeat, I am praying you will have the strength to follow God.

And I am envisioning His mighty everlasting arms encircling you and leading you and comforting you.

Mama: Thank you. 

This is so hard because I honestly don’t want to be pregnant. 

Vicky: You’re welcome. Please send me the photo of your baby if they find it on the ultrasound. I know it is hard, but I also know it is an enormous gift.

The things that have stayed with me my entire life are when I did the right thing that was sacrificial. Those are the things I am the most proud of...

In the end those are the things that have brought me the most joy.

Mama: So true.

Vicky: I love your heart. I know you texted me because you need reassurance.

I know you can do this through Christ who strengthens you.

And your baby and the witness of this struggle and how you overcame evil to follow God will be the saving of many lives. I have no doubt.

Did you ever read Horton Hears a Who? By Dr. Seuss ?

Mama: I haven’t. 

Vicky: I would encourage you to go online and read it. It is the story of tiny little people who inhabit a tiny little speck of dust and no one can hear them shouting when they were on the brink of destruction. But Horton the elephant hears them and no one believes him. His refrain throughout the book is “a person’s a person no matter how small.“

He finally convinces the world not to destroy the  speck of dust because on it reside little people who no one can see and no one can hear except Horton, but they are of infinite value.

The little people call out, “We are here, we are here, we are here.”

But only Horton can hear them.

Your little baby is calling out to you, “I am here. I am here. I am here.”

He is counting on his mama to hear him.

A person is a person no matter how small.

Mama: 💕

Vicky: Rest in the knowledge that if you follow God, he will empower you to do everything you need to do.

Mama: Thank you , Thank you.

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As I sat sipping my hot tea, I read my Bible. I wanted to read about Mary when the angel of the Lord told her she was chosen to carry baby Jesus in her womb. I have read that story thousands of times, but something new leaped out at me. Perhaps it was due to the intense battle the mama in my texts above has been waging. I have spent several days trying to help her see the humanity of her child and how deeply God loves that baby.

Look at this verse:

“You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:14-15‬ ‭

Do you see the amazing truth here??? While yet unborn, God filled that baby, John the Baptist, with the Holy Spirit! This speaks so powerfully of how God clearly sees the unborn as precious souls that He loves, He values, and for whom He already has a plan and purpose. 

A person’s a person, no matter how small.

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